DE102008016279B4 - Laser device for the medical treatment of a skin disease - Google Patents

Abstract

A laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease, the laser device comprising: a laser generator (12) for generating a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength range; a handpiece (14) having a microlens array (11) installed therein for simultaneously forming a plurality of mutually separate laser spots, the microlens array (11) comprising two groups of microlenses (10) having different focal lengths (f) from each other; wherein the two groups of microlenses (10) are arranged alternately so that adjacent microlenses (10) have different focal lengths (f) to form a plurality of pinholes of different depths in the dermis (16) and the ones based on adjacent pinholes transferred heat does not overlap; and an optical energy transmitting element (13) connected to the laser generator and the handpiece for transmitting optical energy to an object to be treated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a laser device for the medical treatment of a skin disease. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease, which improves a general treatment method using a laser in which energy is transmitted from a scar or skin fold area to a given depth of the skin when the skin is damaged, thereby leads to inefficiency in the treatment of the damaged skin, so that much more heat energy is transferred to an object to be treated, using a microlens array consisting of several microlenses with different focal lengths, to allow much more energy to be transferred to a dermis layer thereby relatively effectively treating the skin disease compared to an existing treatment method.

(b) Prior art

In general, a treatment using a laser for the treatment of a skin disease such as e.g. Acne, a scar, a skin fold and the like extensively used.

And attention is being directed to a skin treatment method using a new laser in which several hundreds to hundreds of thousands of micro-treatment zones per 1 cm ^{2 are} formed and medical treatment is given to each of the micro-treatment zones by using a laser.

A laser beam from a laser is irradiated to a plurality of laser spots formed on an object to be treated to radiate the laser beam to the several hundred to one hundred thousand micro treatment areas. Such laser spots are formed using a conventional laser scanner.

As in 9 As shown, a skin treatment process is performed using the laser in such a manner that micro treatment zones are formed and energy is delivered to a given depth of the micro treatment zones through a microlens array 11 is transmitted to thereby treat the damaged skin.

However, such a conventional skin treatment process using the laser results in a problem in that the energy enters a given depth of the micro-treatment zones regardless of the condition of the skin, i. an object to be treated in forming the micro-treatment zones is transmitted at which time the energy is excessively transferred due to the overlap of heat energy.

The US 2005/0049582 A1 discloses a medical skin treatment laser apparatus comprising a laser generator for generating a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength range, a handpiece having a microlens array installed therein for forming a plurality of laser spots, and an optical energy transmitting element connected to the laser generator and the laser generator Handpiece is connected, for the transmission of optical energy to an object to be treated. The device described is only suitable for treatment in a constant skin depth.

Other relevant treatment devices are the publications WO 98/52481 A1 . DE 198 36 649 A1 . US 2004/0151008 A1 and DE 103 35 231 A1 removable, wherein in the last document in the irradiation of the human skin to produce selective focus points under the surface of a microlens array is provided, however, with the purpose to make a thicker layer of cornea temporarily more permeable to the transdermal delivery of drugs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems encountered in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease in which, when the skin is damaged, Energy is transmitted to different depths of the skin using a microlens array consisting of several microlenses with different focal lengths and at the same time a plurality of laser spots are implemented, heat being transferred to the interior of the dermis using the laser spots, thereby causing thermal damage to the laser To minimize epithelium and the epidermis, and optical energy is transferred from the microlens array, which consists of several microlenses with different focal lengths, to the dermis, so that it is converted into heat energy inside the dermis, without overlapping.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease having all the features set forth in claim 1, which comprises among others: a A laser generator for generating a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength range; a handpiece having a microlens array installed therein for forming a plurality of laser spots; and an optical energy transmitting element connected to the laser generator and the handpiece for transmitting optical energy to an object to be processed.

In a preferred embodiment, the microlens array comprises a plurality of microlenses which are regularly arranged and have different focal lengths.

In a preferred embodiment, the microlenses have different focal lengths by changing a radius of curvature of each of the microlenses.

The microlenses also have different focal lengths by changing a pitch of each of the microlenses.

Further, the handpiece includes a bezel mounted therein so as to be parallel to the microlens array so that the amount of optical energy incident on the microlens array is adjusted by means of the bezel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement of different focal length microlenses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a diaphragm for adjusting the area of a pin hole according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 Fig. 10 is a graph showing an absorption coefficient and a scattering coefficient of a skin dermis layer at a wavelength most suitable for collagen production;

5 Fig. 10 is a graph showing water absorption according to a change in wavelength;

6a and 6b 10 are cross-sectional views showing a microlens array consisting of a plurality of microlenses with different pitches and radii of curvature according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

7 Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the sum "h" of a lens bend and a substrate thickness;

8th Fig. 13 is a view showing a radius of a laser beam in a lens focal point; and

9 Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a conventional medical treatment method and a medical treatment method of the present invention using a laser.

The reference numerals set forth in the drawings include reference to the following elements, as further discussed below:

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

 microlens

11

 Microlens array

12

 laser generator

13

 Element for transmission of optical energy

14

 handpiece

15

 epidermis

16

 dermis

17

 cover

18

Subcutaneous fat

19

 Scar or skin fold

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments will be described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Now, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic view showing a laser device for the medical treatment of a skin disease according to an embodiment of the present invention shows 2 FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an arrangement of different focal length microlenses according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG 3 Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a diaphragm for adjusting the size range of a pin hole according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of laser spots having different depths on an object to be treated by a microlens array 11 formed from a variety of microlenses 10 with different focal lengths.

The present invention includes a laser generator 12 for generating a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength range around the damaged skin such as a scar or skin fold 19 to treat an item 13 for transmitting optical energy to the laser generator 12 connected to transmit optical energy to an object to be treated, and a handpiece 14 with a microlens array 11 which consists of a plurality of microlenses with different focal lengths installed therein to form a plurality of laser spots.

The laser generator 12 generates a single laser beam with a predetermined wavelength range for the treatment of the skin. The element 13 for the transmission of optical energy is used to connect the handpiece 14 and the laser generator 12 for guiding the laser generator 12 generated laser beam to the microlens array 11 inside the handpiece 14 is arranged.

The main tissue within the skin consists of a gelatinous tissue of a skin layer and the ratio of collagen (protein = fiber) occupying the inside of the skin is about 90%. A colloidal element is completely filled between the fibers.

As you get older, the activity of the skin tissue is gradually worsened and the amount of collagen is reduced and hardened. The moisture-retaining ability of the skin tissue is also worsened and the skin loses elasticity. The skin tissue is even torn.

Consequently, the skin is susceptible to irritation and damage and becomes dry, causing black spots and fine wrinkles on the surface thereof.

Collagen is a protein that is abundant in every part of the human body and serves as a ring that binds cells together. Collagen also serves to maintain skin and elasticity of the skin.

Collagen occupies one-third of the total protein that makes up the human body, and plays an important role in promoting the blood circulation of our entire body.

Collagen connects a cell and a cell, and nutrients that are absorbed in the small intestine are transported to each cell via collagen. In addition, a metabolic waste product is carried to a blood vessel by collagen, so that it is discharged to the outside of the human body.

The skin includes an epidermis 15 and a dermis 16 under keratin.

The epidermis 15 consists of four layers, which are arranged under a sebum layer, and a skin cell is generated in a base layer, which is one of the four layers.

The generated skin cell is moved toward an upper layer while changing its shape, and then gradually changed into keratin. Finally, the keratin becomes dirt, which in turn is removed from the skin. Likewise, the skin is continuously generated and changed.

The dermis 16 supports the base layer, which plays an important role in creating the skin cell. The dermis 16 is a key site that improves the moisture retention of the epidermis 15 affects and maintains the elasticity of the skin, thereby tightening the skin.

A big part of the dermis 16 is occupied by collagen. The reason that the skin ages or brown spots, wrinkles, freckles and the like occur in a large amount on the skin is because the collagen is insufficient or its quality is deteriorated.

Meanwhile, the correlation between the skin treatment effect and the optical energy is directly related to a wavelength of the optical energy as well as the skin absorption and scattering of the optical energy.

Consequently, the production of collagen must be the dermis 16 first performed to medically treat a scar and pigmentation of the skin.

The wavelength most suitable for generating collagen is within a range between 1400 nm and 1500 nm, as in 4 shown. The reason for this is that in the above wavelength range, an absorption coefficient (A) of the dermis layer is highest and a scattering coefficient (B) of the dermis layer is lowest.

In the case where the optical energy absorbed into the skin is converted into heat energy, even if the optical energy is not absorbed into moisture within the skin, thermal damage is applied to the skin tissue surrounding the skin surface, resulting in reducing the effect of medical treatment.

As in 5 As shown, since high water absorption is exhibited in the wavelength region of 1400 nm to 1500 nm, heat can be transmitted only to a region to be treated. The use of the wavelength in the above range enables the selective treatment of the skin.

The microlens array 11 is a structure in which several microlenses 10 are arranged regularly. The microlens array 11 is in the handpiece 14 installed so that it is oriented perpendicular to the direction of advancement of a laser beam. The microlenses 10 are convex lenses and radiate into the handpiece 14 from the laser generator 12 about the element 13 optical energy introduced to transmit optical energy to an object to be treated while having different focal lengths.

In this case, the focal lengths (f) of the respective microlenses can be made different from each other by the pitches (D) and radii of curvature (R) of the microlenses 10 to be changed.

6a shows a cross-sectional view of a microlens array, which consists of a plurality of microlenses with different pitches, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and 6b shows a cross-sectional view of a microlens array, which consists of a plurality of microlenses with different radii of curvature, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As in 6a and 6b As shown, when the radius of curvature (R) is changed, the pitches (D) of the respective microlenses may be identical or different. Basically, the focal length (f) of the microlens varies depending on a change in the radius of curvature (R) of the microlens, which is expressed by the following Equation 1:

[Equation 1]

• f = R / n - 1, R = a 2 / 2h + (k + 1) h / 2 where f is a focal length, R is a radius of curvature, and n is a refractive index. h is also a sum of a lens bend and a substrate thickness, a is a radius of a lens, and k is a conic constant defined as follows:

[Equation 2]

• r = λf / πa where r is a radius of a laser beam at a focal point, λ is a wavelength of a laser beam, f is a focal length of a lens, and a is a radius of the lens.

7 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a sum "h" of a lens bend and a substrate thickness; FIG. 8th FIG. 12 is a view showing a radius "r" of a laser beam in a lens focus, and FIG 9 Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a conventional medical treatment method and a medical treatment method of the present invention using a laser. In 9 the unexplained reference numeral 190 means an area to be treated.

The microlens array 11 Using a variety of microlenses with different focal lengths can be used to control the depth of the laser beam entering the dermis 16 invades, depending on the depth of a lesion to be treated, to change a patient to treat the lesion.

As in 3 shown may be the use of a bezel 17 set a portion of the microlens array on which the laser beam is incident.

The aperture 17 is above the microlens array 11 Mounted so that it can be rotated to the amount of laser beam applied to the microlens array 11 comes to mind. In this case, the aperture is 17 a device that adjusts the diameter of the laser beam incident on the microlens array to control the amount of optical energy of the laser beam. When the shutter is fully opened, a fine treatment area as far as the size of the microlens array and the number of microlenses are formed. On the other hand, when the shutter is closed, the optical energy is transmitted to the microlens array as much as the size of the closed shutter, so that the fine treatment area is reduced as much as the size of the closed shutter. Consequently, the size of the area to be treated can be adjusted by the operation of the shutter.

In the 3 microlens shown 10 also has a circular shape, but may be formed in a quadrangular shape.

The operation of the laser device for the medical treatment of a skin disease according to the present invention as constructed above will be described below.

A single laser beam coming out of the laser generator 12 is spent falls by the leadership of the element 13 for transmitting optical energy to the microlens array 11 one.

The on the microlens array 11 incident laser beam is due to the multitude of microlenses 10 divided into a plurality of lights, resulting in the simultaneous generation of a plurality of laser spots.

Here are pinholes in the dermis 16 Using the laser point formed to heat in the interior of the dermis 14 causing heat damage to the epithelium and to the epidermis 15 is minimized.

In addition, those in the dermis 16 According to the present invention, pinholes have different depths to transfer heat to the interior of the dermis. The transferred heat allows that energy to the dermis 16 is applied without overlapping, thereby improving the thermal efficiency in the medical treatment of the skin disease. Moreover, the laser device according to the invention uses the microlens array 11 with a variety of microlenses with different focal lengths (f), to allow much more heat energy to the dermis 16 of an object to be treated, as compared to the conventional method of treatment, in which energy is reduced to a uniform depth of dermis on a scar or skin fold 19 is transmitted if the skin is damaged.

Furthermore, the laser device according to the invention has an advantage insofar as the microlens array 11 is configured with a plurality of microlenses with different focal lengths as a single system, thereby reducing a price of a product, and is easy to remove and assemble.

As described above, according to a laser device for medical treatment of a skin disease according to the present invention, a plurality of laser spots are formed in an object to be treated using a microlens array consisting of a plurality of microlenses with different focal lengths, and the optical energy is delivered to different depths of the one to be treated Transmit object, in which the laser beam penetrates using the laser points, whereby the thermal efficiency in the medical treatment of the skin disease is improved.

Claims (5)

A laser device for the medical treatment of a skin disease, the laser device comprising: a laser generator ( 12 ) for generating a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength range; a handpiece ( 14 ) with a microlens array installed therein ( 11 ) for simultaneously forming a plurality of mutually separate laser spots, the microlens array ( 11 ) two groups of microlenses ( 10 ) having mutually different focal lengths (f); where the two groups of microlenses ( 10 ) are arranged alternately so that adjacent microlenses ( 10 ) have different focal lengths (f) to make a plurality of pinholes of different depths in the dermis ( 16 ), and wherein the heat transmitted from adjacent pinholes does not overlap; and an element ( 13 ) for transmitting optical energy, which is connected to the laser generator and the handpiece, for transmitting optical energy to an object to be treated. Laser device according to claim 1, wherein the microlens array ( 11 ) a plurality of microlenses ( 10 ), which are regularly arranged .. Laser device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the microlenses ( 10 ) have different focal lengths by a radius of curvature of each of the microlenses ( 10 ) is changed. Laser device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the microlenses ( 10 ) have different focal lengths, by a step size of each of the microlenses ( 10 ) is changed. A laser device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handpiece comprises a shutter mounted therein so as to be parallel to the microlens array (10). 11 ) is arranged so that the amount of optical energy directed to the microlens array ( 11 ), by means of the diaphragm ( 17 ) is set.

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